When the first golden light of dawn touched the rooftops, Li Xuan was already awake.
His eyes were slightly tired from the night cultivation, but his mind felt sharp.The thin ring of Qi inside his dantian pulsed steadily — weak, but alive.
He washed his face with cold water, calmed his breathing, and prepared for another day pretending to be useless.
When he stepped outside, the morning air was crisp.But the sect… felt wrong.
Too quiet.Too watchful.Too tense.
Disciples whispered in small groups, staring around nervously.
Li Xuan didn't need to listen long.
"Did you hear? Elder Fang Zhi stayed another night.""Why? Isn't he from Crimson Spirit Hall?""Elder Qiu talked with him again at sunrise.""I heard someone's room was searched."
Li Xuan's heart almost stopped.
They were moving faster.
Threats closing in.
He lowered his gaze and walked toward the training field.
When he arrived, Elder Qiu was already standing there, hands behind his back, expression cold enough to freeze the grass.
His eyes scanned the crowd.
Then…
His gaze landed on Li Xuan.
Only for a second.
But enough to make Li Xuan feel a chill along his neck.
Zhao Ren stood nearby, but he looked tense.Not arrogant like before — cautious.
Chen Mu and Hou Shan whispered to each other, both glance at Li Xuan like he was a rabbit they were told to watch.
Feng Yu, the quiet observer, stood at the far side, eyes half-closed… studying everything in silence.
Yan Ling stood under a tree again, arms crossed, her gaze calm — but sharper today.
Everyone was on edge.
Elder Qiu's voice suddenly cut through the air like a blade:
"Today, we will test your basic foundation."
A collective groan spread through the disciples.
Foundation testing wasn't done often. It was usually performed before a big selection… or when elders wanted to see if someone was hiding something.
Li Xuan's fingers tightened slightly.
Elder Qiu continued:
"Line up. All of you. No exceptions."
Disciples hurried into a long line.
Li Xuan moved slowly, joining the end.
The Grand Immortal murmured:
—Be calm. Foundation tests cannot detect your dantian stage, only your body's endurance and stability.—But if you show sudden improvement, Elder Qiu will notice.
Li Xuan understood.
He had to act weak.Even during the test.
He waited as disciples were called forward one by one.
Some performed well.Some stumbled.Some were scolded loudly.
When Zhao Ren stepped forward, Elder Qiu watched him with approval.
"Stable. Good posture. Continue improving."
Zhao Ren bowed proudly.
Chen Mu was average.Hou Shan was sloppy and got yelled at.
Then Elder Qiu called:
"…Li Xuan."
Whispers broke out.
"He's still here?""Just skip him.""Why waste time?"
Li Xuan stepped forward calmly.
He bowed.
Elder Qiu's eyes narrowed with interest.
"Begin."
Li Xuan took his stance — the same weak, unbalanced stance he always used.
But he had to be careful.
Before, he stumbled because he was weak.
Now, he had to stumble on purpose.
He swung his arms slowly.He breathed irregularly.He intentionally overbalanced his steps.
He looked like a beginner.
A failure.
Trash.
Elder Qiu's eyes remained on him the whole time.
Li Xuan felt sweat on his neck — not from effort, but from tension.
If he made even one movement too stable, Elder Qiu would notice.
So he purposely tripped slightly.
He coughed.He winced.He pretended his ankle hurt.
Finally, Elder Qiu raised a hand.
"Enough."
Li Xuan stopped immediately.
Elder Qiu's eyes were cold.
"…Still useless, I see."
Li Xuan lowered his head.
Good.
That was the best outcome.
But then—
Another voice spoke.
Cold. Sharp. Heavy.
"Hold on."
Everyone turned.
Elder Fang Zhi had arrived.
His red robes moved like a flame in the wind.The entire field fell silent.
He looked straight at Li Xuan.
"Let me see him again."
Li Xuan's stomach dropped.
Elder Qiu seemed surprised. "Honored Elder… you believe he—"
"I will see for myself," Fang Zhi said.
Elder Qiu stepped aside immediately.
The red-robed elder approached Li Xuan, stopping only a few steps away.
Li Xuan felt suffocated by the pressure.
Fang Zhi was not just a cultivator.He was a hunter — a man who found the smallest signs of Qi like blood in the water.
The elder spoke calmly:
"Raise your hand."
Li Xuan did so, slowly, carefully.
"Hold it."
Li Xuan held his hand in the air.
Fang Zhi watched every tiny movement…
The trembling fingers…The weak wrist…The shaky arm strength…
Then:
"Breathe deeply."
Li Xuan inhaled.But not too steady.Not too balanced.
Fang Zhi leaned even closer.
Li Xuan felt cold sweat slide down his spine.
A single mistake could expose him.
Seconds felt like minutes.Minutes felt like hours.
Then—
Fang Zhi suddenly stepped back.
"Useless."
Li Xuan nearly collapsed from relief.
Elder Qiu smirked slightly, satisfied.
Fang Zhi turned away.
But just as he walked past Li Xuan, he paused.
His voice was low — only Li Xuan could hear.
"…But your eyes are different."
Li Xuan's heart froze.
Fang Zhi didn't turn toward him. He simply walked away with slow steps, leaving a final sentence drifting in the air:
"I will watch you."
Li Xuan stood still.
Not shaking.Not breathing loudly.
Just silent.
The Grand Immortal said softly:
—He did not see your cultivation. But he saw your will.—That is enough for suspicion.
Li Xuan exhaled slowly.
Survived again.
But barely.
Yan Ling watched him from the side, her expression calm — yet her eyes sharpened with something like warning.
Li Xuan stepped back into the line quietly.
But one thing was clear:
There would be no more peaceful days in the Twilight Ember Sect.
Too many eyes were watching.
Too many shadows were moving.
And Li Xuan…
had only just begun his climb.